Debt is often treated like a shadow that follows people around—a defining mark that shapes how society sees them. But for Sasha Lockley, co-founder and CEO of Money Sweetspot, debt is not a life sentence. Instead, it’s a moment in time - a hurdle that people can move through with dignity and respect. “Debt shouldn’t be a defining moment in your life,” she says, “it should be something you move through, with dignity.”

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Sasha’s journey into social lending and sustainable finance is deeply rooted in empathy and listening. She compares sustainability to the pūriri tree - a robust, regenerative native species that thrives even in challenging environments and creates space for others to flourish. For her, sustainability isn’t just about environmental responsibility; it’s about building financial systems that support people’s real stories and lived experiences, especially those too often overlooked by mainstream finance.

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Her work at Money Sweetspot challenges the traditional financial system’s extractive model, which too often keeps people trapped in debt cycles. “We’re fighting upstream to prove that sustainable lending is better for people and commercially viable,” she explains. This fight is more than business; it’s a commitment to regeneration and inclusion, grounded in values of manaakitanga—care, respect, and hospitality not only for people but for place and context.

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A defining moment for Sasha came when she was welcomed by grassroots entrepreneurs in Tolaga Bay. Listening to their stories and Kaupapa was transformative. It revealed that many of the answers to society’s biggest challenges already exist within communities; the key is to listen more and judge less. Wearing her pounamu taonga from Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti daily, she stays connected to this grounding perspective.

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Sasha’s approach to engaging stakeholders is simple but powerful: lead with the story, then bring in the numbers. “Use lived experience as the starting point, then layer in data to show both the problem and what’s possible. Make it personal and actionable.” It’s this blend of heart and evidence that she believes will shift the financial sector and create more inclusive systems that uplift rather than extract.

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What gives her hope for Aotearoa’s future? The country’s storytelling prowess. “We are incredible storytellers, and that’s an undervalued superpower for systemic change,” she says. “If those stories were truly valued and listened to in government, business, and investment, the ripple effects could be felt globally.”

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Her advice to anyone confronting debt is grounded in empathy and vulnerability: “Let’s normalise talking about debt; it’s something most of us share, like death and taxes. When someone tells you they’re in debt, don’t flinch. Lend an ear with empathy. Creating space for vulnerability is where change begins.”

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Through Money Sweetspot, Sasha is planting a seed of change - a vision where financial systems stop judging people for life’s hardships and instead help them rebuild with dignity. Her work is just the beginning of a movement towards financial systems that truly serve people and communities, fostering regeneration and resilience for generations to come. Read Sasha’s answers to BLOOMING Sustainability and learn to rethink debt.

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BLOOMING  Sustainability Questionnaire

Name: Sasha Lockley

Company & Title: CEO, Money Sweetspot

Websites & LinkedIn Profile: moneysweetspot.co.nz | linkedin.com/in/sashalockley

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​* Guiding Values | Kaupapa 

If sustainability were a flower blooming in your life, what would it look like? What nurtures it?  

It would be a pūriri tree. It is strong, regenerative, and often overlooked. It thrives in hard conditions and creates space for others to flourish by providing both nectar and fruit. For me, sustainability is nurtured by empathy, curiosity, and action—being willing to truly hear people’s stories and build systems that work with, not against, the realities of their lives.

 

A quote, personal motto or whakataukī that reflects your vision:  

"Debt shouldn’t be a defining moment in your life—it should be something you move through, with dignity."

 

If you could mentor a rising change-maker in Aotearoa, what advice would you share?  

Don’t wait for perfect. Start where people are hurting most. Build something they can use today—and improve it with them tomorrow. Listen more than you speak, and never let the system tell you someone’s story is too complicated.

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* Leading Change | Arataki

A key moment in your journey that shaped your path:  

Being welcomed Lily Stender at Tolaga Bay and having the privilege of listening to grass roots entrepreneurs and their Kaupapa. It created a visceral shift in me that I carry still today. The answers to the worlds biggest problems already exist- we just need to listen more than we talk, and be curious more than we judge. Receiving my pounamu Taonga from Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti that I wear each day helps to keep me grounded.

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What’s the main challenge you face in driving sustainability within your sector?  

The traditional financial system is extractive rewards products that keep people in debt and an endless focus on growth, for growths sake- but at what cost? We’re fighting upstream to prove that sustainable lending is better for people and still commercially viable.

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An area you need more support with:  

At  a personal level, I’m always keen to hear from people who are working at a grassroots level to shift the dial on systemic issues and innovation. We need to hear (and more importantly listen) to those real stories. I wish we told more stories of the reality of social entrepreneurship- which picks ALL of the hards to balance out the ‘Unicorn’ growth narrative.

 

And from a more business perspective, I think it’s about continuing to connect with impact focussed investors, funders, and those who value the concepts of regeneration, circulars economy, and creating better businesses.

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An Indigenous perspective you admire and want people to be mindful of:  

Manaakitanga—hospitality, care, respect. It’s not just about people. It’s about place, context, connection. It shows up in our partnerships with iwi and reminds us to build financial systems that uplift, not extract.

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Your best approach for engaging stakeholders in meaningful dialogue about ESG:  

Bring the numbers, but lead with the story. Use lived experience as the starting point, then layer in data to show both the problem and what’s possible. Make it personal and actionable.

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What do you think is Aotearoa’s superpower in creating a sustainable future?  

We are incredible story-tellers and that is an undervalued superpower for systemic change – imagine if those stories were more valued and listened to when thinking about the direction of governments, new businesses, and investment opportunities. We’re small enough to be nimble, and connected enough to move as one. When we get it right, the ripple effects are felt around the world.

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​ * Surfing the Green Wave | Kakariki

Books, podcasts, courses or other resources that profoundly shaped your approach to sustainability

• Toitu Tahua Centre for Sustainable Finance Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2030

• Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth

• Also, the everyday insights from our customers. Their stories ground everything we do.

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Events in Aotearoa or globally that you think are must-attend:  

• A plug for Impact Day: https://web.cvent.com/event/f445aff2-9146-4d53-9c8a-939a453aa8e4/summary

• Impact Investing Network

• SEWF!

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A sustainable initiative or project in Aotearoa that deserves more attention:  

• https://www.naumaira.nz/ Kauapapa Maori energy COmpany

• https://www.thrivingaotearoa.org.nz/ (I’m the Chair!)

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If your work could plant one seed of change for the future, what would it be?  

A person’s story is the essential value in a well functioning and sustainable society. The seed I hope to plant well, for many generations to come, is that financial systems need to stop judging people for life happening—and start helping people rebuild with dignity. Valuing a persons real story should increase access and inclusion, rather than exclude and judge. We’re using storytelling as part of our lending practices, and it is just the beginning.

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The leader(s) you endorse for a future edition of Blooming Sustainability: 

• Nicola Taylor- Tax Traders and Taxi

• Nicola Nation- ex Akina

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* One actionable takeaway for our readers to make a change today for a brighter tomorrow:

Lets normalise talking about debt; it’s the one thing most of us have in common (like death and taxes!). Next time someone tells you they’re in debt, don’t flinch. Lend an ear with a focus on empathy. Creating space for vulnerability is where change begins.